Why does Entertainment Technology need a caucus? Why is there a Network of Video Game Voters? Well, video games are big business, and the US is a big market for video games. From The VGVN Blog: In 2010, computer and video games contributed $24 billion in sales to the U.S. economy. The computer and video games industry employs 120,000 Americans in high-paying jobs in 34 states. Computer and video games help soldiers rehabilitate, keep seniors active, and educate our children. For more information on the roles of video games in our lives, see the Entertainment Software Association’s website.

Like any big business, everyone working and investing in it needs to anticipate growth in the future. For growth in the video game market we need freedom to create and sell the games that will grow the market and we also need a local workforce trained for the jobs required. Therefore, limiting regulation and enhancing education are key to increasing the strength of America’s video game industry.

Limiting regulation: Limiting what video games can contain is very similar to limiting what a book can contain, extremely similar. Limiting the content of our stories and our speech should be resisted, regardless of the economic considerations.

Enhancing Education: We will need trained workers to keep up with the world video game and other technology related industries. Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultzspoke about the E-TECH caucus at the Atlantic’s Forum on Technology in Education,March 30, 2011, see minute 4:30. Rep. Wasserman Schultz spoke mainly not about regulation but about how we can use technology to enhance our education system. For example, US students could debate with students in other countries. It is easy to see how technology can enhance the education of student in every topic, not just technology related ones. Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s example is simple: debating economics with students in another country could enhance our students’ understanding of the topic. Imagine learning about Roman ruins from students in Rome or debating the finer points of baseball vs cricket with students in India. These kinds of interactions should be common place.

Moving forward locally… To make the innovative use of technology common place in our schools we need to speak up and demand it. I suggest for starters, that we all go to your local middle school and see if their network allows access to Wikipedia. You may be very surprised. We could start by simply that our local tax dollars be used to give this free service available to curious 10 year olds. See Wikipedia’s FAQ about Wikipedia in School. Then we can turn our attention to down loadable video games like Immune Attack, and blog sites where students could contribute to discussions on current events and science.

Additionally, their many opportunities for teachers, students and parents to get involved in projects that involve technology. See our Science Games post for updates.

Immune Attack 2.0 is being developed with funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The NIAID funds research in everything from basic viral replication mechanisms to innovative AIDS treatments, from basic

To read more about the NIAID and their work, you can download their PDF, or see their website. Today, the NIAID published a report on the educational programs the fund. And that includes, of course, Immune Attack 2.0. So, go read the report on all the great innovative work the NIAID is sponsoring for educating the next generation of Scientists!

Amy Maxmen wrote an article about Immune Attack for Cell! Maxmen keeps you up to date about the push from the President and First Lady to make sure we are using video games and all learning technology to their fullest potential. And then Maxmen summaries what scientists think of video game about science and then what DATA there is suggesting that they work!

The data that is quoted in this article will be published this fall semester. We are in the final round of evaluations this semester.

Our newsletter will explain our hopes and dreams for Immune Attack, will link you to surveys that are important to us because they let us know what you like and don’t like about Immune Attack. Our Newsletter will also give you information about educational video games, science games and molecular science happenings in particular. So read it HERE. And if you are not receiving it already, send us your email now! (Newsletter will be once a month.)

Thank you!

Melanie

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